Sunday, December 14, 2008

#17 Album of 2008: In Ghost Colours - Cut/Copy

In Ghost Colours

Cut/CopyModular Records.

For a band that have self-assembled to be a modern, indie-hybrid of 80s new-wave and French house, it’s suspiciously humble that they’d name themselves Cut/Copy. Yet for all their formulaic tendencies toward uber-coolness, I tip my hat to these Melbourne lads, who’ve managed to find originality amid such telling piracy; turning the hard-earned tricks of New Order, Depeche Mode, and Daft Punk into something too enjoyable to throw accusations at, too honest with their influences to really spite over.

After all, Cut/Copy are far from the only dancefloor-borrowers to strike gold off old sounds this year. Where acts like M83 got locked in time capsules, however, Cut/Copy have surgically kept the fun and discarded the cheese that often accompanies retro-activation. In Ghost Colours will soundtrack many summer nights to come.